In the past I have had a 2005 sportsman 500 and a 2008 sportsman 800 so I understand these machines. I currently have a 2010 Scrambler.

I just bought a 2012 sportsman 550 touring. I have a few questions.

1. The suspension seems super stiff compared to my other sportsmans. I even unhooked the sway bar which would cut the amount in half of force needed for the each independent A arm to travel. I put the air pressure down to 3# and the quad still rides very stiff. Was your sportsman stiff when new and then with some mileage did it soften up?

2. This new seat is very uncomfortable. The foam is hard. On the touring model it angles upward in the rear which is bad. The seat on my scrambler sport quad is MUCH softer. Why the heck would they put a hard seat on a touring quad? My two other sportsmans had the nice soft seats. Did your seat foam soften after a few hundred miles?

The sportsman is the best quad out there and I love it, especially the EPS.

Thanks.

 

My review of 2012 550 Touring 550 EPS http://forums.atvconnection.com/pola...y-new-atv.html

1) The Touring rides harder because it is designed to carry two people so the springs are stiffer to support the added weight of the passenger.

My 2012 550 Touring EPS has 1500 miles on it and rides the same as the day I got it even with the springs set on the lightest setting.

Disconnecting the sway bar will increase wheel travel and “flexibility” and not necessarily the ride quality.

2) The seat slopes forward to shift the drivers body forward to more evenly distribute the weight of two people. They don't want the entire weight of both the rider and the passenger sitting towards the rear of the machine.

I have found that the seat is really not all that comfortable.